Paper fastener



Oct. 2, 1951 w. D. STRIKER 2,570,166

PAPER FASTENER Filed Oct. 24, 1946 Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES "PATENT, OFFICE PAPER FASTENER Walter D. Striker, Cicero, Ill.

Application October 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,451 3 Claims. (01. 24- 153) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fastening devices, and more particularly to improvements in fasteners adapted to secure together several sheets of paper or the like, such as in folders.

In general, the invention contemplates the provision of a paper fastener of the type which includes head and shank portions which latter consistof complemental blades adapted to be passed through the stack of paper sheets or the like and then bent outwardly away from one another in order to secure the sheets between the head portion and the outwardly bent shank portions or blades. It is, of course, obvious that the fastener may be similarly employed for holding sheets of paper in a, folder or the like and the secured sheets, whether in a folder or not, may be filed away in a file cabinet or other suitable storage receptacle. Heretofore, paper fasteners of this type have in general included a head or cover portion which is crimped around and under flanges on the complemental shank portions. Such constructions obviously require additional space and result in often catching or snagging on other papers or fasteners when inserting or removing the papers from a filing, storage, or other receptacle.

' It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fastener substantially of the above type which is of improved construction and which possesses improved characteristics of operation when in use so as to overcome the above mentioned and other disadvantages heretofore encountered.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fastener substantially of the above type which is constructed and arranged to occupy a minimum amount of space in addition to the sheets secured thereby so as to permit a given filing, storage, or similar receptacle to possess maximum capacity.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide a fastener of the above type which does not project substantially outwardly from the sheets secured thereby so as to prevent binding or catching between adjacent fasteners or between a fastener and other stored sheets, thus facilitating filing and removal of the sheets or folders therefor from a suitable receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener substantially of the above type wherein the edges of the complemental head portions are adapted to snugly engage or slightly bite into the adjacent sheet or folder surface so as to present a substantially smooth surface and thus insure passage of the fasteners over adjacent fasteners or sheets without catching or snagging thereon. i i

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fastener of the above type wherein. the separate elements of the shank portion are maintained against relative slipping when in fastening position so as effectively to prevent misalignment thereof and resultant catching thereon on other sheets, fasteners or other objects;

The invention still further aims to provide a fastener of the above type which is extremely simple in construction, which is easily :manipu-. lated, and which is thoroughly reliable in opera tion and use. i l l The above and various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will bear)- parent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein certain preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,

Figure l is a plan view of one form of fastener element showing a substantially triangular head portion before bending thereof with respect to the shank portion;

Figure 2 is aview similar to Figure 1 but show-. ing a substantially-semi-circular head portion;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a substantially semi-elliptical head portion;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the type of fastener element shown in Figure 1 after the head portion thereof has been bent with respect to the shank portion and slightly dished outwardly;

Figure 5 is a top plan View showing the relative positions of the head and shank portions of complemental fastener elements of the type shown in Figure 1;

Fi urefi is a fragmentary detail showing the angularly out ends of the complemental shank portions; I

Figure 7 is a plan view of a washer through which the shank portions may be passed;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showdrawings and particularly to Figures 1,. 2 and 3,

itwill beseen that, each complemental fastener e1ement 'may beprovided with head portions of various configurations. Thus, in Figure 1, the fastener element is illustrated as including a narrow blade or shank portion In and a head portion I I of substantially triangular surface configuration. The bottom or free end of the shank portion is provided with an angular cut I2 for purposes to be hereinafter pointed out. In Figure 2, the shank portion [4 is illustrated as being provided with .a. substantiallysemi-circular head portion |5 and with an. angular .cut Ma at the opposite end thereof. In Figure 3, the shank portion l6 has at one end thereof a head portion H of semi-elliptical shape and the opposite end thereof is angularly cut, as at I611? .The heads of the assembled complemental fastener elements of Figure 1 will present a rectangular shape, while the heads of the fastener elements of Figure 2 will present a circular shape and those of Figure 3 will present an oval shape.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 1 will be employedfor purposes of illustration in the following description and the specific description of one of the complemental fastener elements will be sufiici'ent. Thus, inFi'gure 4, the substantially triangular'head portion"| I is illustrated as being bent at approximately right anglesto the blade or shank portion Ill. The head portion may be slightly but not materially dished or concavedoutwardlywith respect to an adjacent sheet to be secured thereby. This construction results'in the bottom edges of the identical angular sides l8, l9 snugly engaging and possibly biting slightlyinto the adjacent surface of asheet or folder. Likewise, the bottom edge of the rounded apex 20 will also snuglyengage the adjacent surface of the sheet to be secured. With this more intimate contact and engagement between the edges of the head of the fastener and the adjacent sheet or other surface to be secured thereby, it will be seenthat the likelihood of the fastener becoming snagged or catching on adjacent fasteners or sheets during insertion or removal from a filing cabinet-or other storage receptacle is substantially eliminated. And it will also be seen that the entire body of the head portion does not materially project outwardly from the adjacent surfaces of the sheets which are secured thereby so that a'substantially smooth and flat surface is presented. This close association between the fastener elements and the material to be secured is more clearly illustrated inFigure 8.

The edges 2|, 2| a of the head portion which extend outwardly in opposite directions from the shank portion In may also snugly engage the adjacent sheet or other surface but this is not essentialinsofaras these edges are concerned, because they are adapted to abut against the adjacent corresponding edges of the head portion ||a of the complemental fastener element, as more particularly shown'in Figure 5. Thus,

the adjacent edges 2|, 21a of the head portions H a, respectively, of the complemental fastener elements abut against one another and provide line contact with the abutting adjacent surfaces of the complemental shank portions l0, Illa so as to present a smooth surface. The positioning of the complemental fastener elements, as shown ,in Figure 5, may be maintained by the stack of :sheets where the openings therethrough are of proper size, or theposition may be maintained by a washer element 22 which is shown in Figure '7. This washer element is provided with a. substantially rectangular aperture 23 therethrough and this aperture is proportioned so as to snugly engage the two adjacent and backto-back abutting shank portions l0, Illa and prevent lateral or separating movement therebetween.

As an illustration of one use of the fastener assembly of the type disclosed herein, reference is made to Figure 8, wherein a stack of sheets 24 is disposed on the inner surface of the bottom 25 of a folder, the top or cover 26 of which is adapted to be bent over the opposite surface of the stack when closed for filing. In use, the

complemental fastener elements may be placed together in the position shown in Figure 5 with the shank portions l0, Illa extending through the .bottom..25 of, the folder and through openings' 2l'formed in the stack of sheets 24. The

complemental shank portions l0, |0a may then be threaded through the aperture 23 in the washer 2'2 and bent outwardly, so that the washer snugly engages the adjacent surface of the stack of "sheets." This outward bending of the' shank portions 10, lea tends to set up stresses maintaining the adjacent edges 2|, 210. of the complemental head portions I la, and the abutting portions of the shanks in engagement and strained toward one another, and the edges'of the aperture23 in the washer, in addition to the rather snug passage of the shank portions through the folder and the stack of sheets, will maintain the proper alignment of the shank portionsso that they will not shift laterally with respect to one another. The grasping and bending of the shank portions H], Ilia is facilitated by the angularly cut ends l2, l2a, respectively, thereof. It will be seen that a portion of the endof each shank portion is readily accessible for finger gripping to effect outward bending thereof, thus obviating the necessity of making one shank portion longer than the other as inconventional constructions.

' From the foregoing description, it will be seen 'that thepresent invention provides an improved fastener for sheets of paper or the like wherein thehead portion lies substantially fiushwith the adjacent surface. ofthe stack of sheets or a folder therefor, as the case may be. The fastener head is formed by .the complemental head'portions' ofieach shankand these head. portions abut snugly-against one-another and are maintained in'such position by a close fit with the stack to be-secured-or by the Washer 22 when employed. The washer may be formed of metal or fibrous, plastic or other suitable material, while the complemental fastener' elements will usually be formed of a suitable thin sheet metal, "preferably having some resiliency. The head portion of each shank :m-ay be flat so as to be against the surface ofan adjacent sheet'or folder and present only a single added layer of the material of the head to the stack of sheets or, if desired, the peripheral edge of the assembled head may be bevelled toeliminate .any slight projecting edge and thus provide a smooth surface which willnot catch or snap'when the stack is filed or removed or otherwise handled. The slightly dished form of head shown in Figures 4, 5 and S-has proved to be very effective in providing snug and smooth engagement with the adjacent surface of the secured stack of sheets and creates a slight tension when the shanks are bent outwardly to securing position so as to effectively lock the assembly in proper position. The slight dished shaping ofthe head also strengthens the head portion and thus lends strength and sta--' bility to the structure, in reference to its weight and thickness.

As will be understood, the structure may be shipped and sold with the parts in flat condition as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but preferably they are bent as indicated in Figure 4, prior to reaching the ultimate consumer, so as to be in condition for immediate use.

A further modification of the invention is shown in Figure 9. This form of the invention may be employed when it is not desired to employ a washer, such as the washer 22, and when the sheets only loosely engage the shank portions. Thus, the shank 3| of the head 30 is disposed slightly outwardly of the head edges 32, 32a, and the shank 3| a of the head 30a is disposed slightly inwardly of the head edges 32, 32a. There is thus provided by the surface of the shang 3Ia and the edges 33, 33a which extend at right angles to the abutting edges 32, 32a of the head portions, a recess for receiving the adjacent part of the shank 3|. The edges 33, 33a provide shoulders preventing lateral slipping between the fastener elements which are maintained in abutting relation by the outward bending of the shank portions in sheet fastening position.

While certain forms of they invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is, accordingly, not to be limited to the precise embodiments shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. A fastener for a stack of paper sheets and the like, comprising a pair of separate and complemental fastener elements each including a blade-like shank portion to be disposed in backto-back surface contact when passed through a stack of sheets and with the free ends thereof adapted to be bent outwardly to stack-securing position, and an enlarged head disposed at right angles to the shank portion, each head having lateral edges extending from opposite side edges of the corresponding shank portion, and the separate and complemental fastener elements in assembled securing position with the shank portions in back-to-back surface contact having the adjacent lateral edges-of each head disposed in mutually abutting line contact relationship to resist twisting and misalignment of the assembled fastener elements and to provide a complete head structure consisting of a single layer of the fastener material over the adjacent face of the secured stack of sheets.

2. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein each head outwardly of the lateral edges thereof is outwardly dished to provide peripheral edges between the outer ends of the said lateral edges to make line contact with the secured stack of sheets and to be placed under tension in engagement therewith when the ends of the shank portion are bent outwardly to stack-securing posi- "tion.

3. A fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral edges of each head are ofiset from the plane of its corresponding shank portion whereby in assembled position each shank portion is in back-to-back contact along an ofiset line with respect to the line contact of the lateral edges of each head to resist relative sliding movement between the fastener elements.

WALTER D. STRIKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 347,719 Kempshall Aug. 17, 1886 377,032 Jensen Jan. 31, 1888 434,101 Walter Aug. 12, 1890 1,146,231 Arant July 13, 1915 1,271,607 Oppenheim July 9, 1918 1,513,049 Krehbiel Oct.. 28, 1924 1,531,625 Rogers Mar. 31, 1925 1,666,356 Smickle Apr. 17, 1928 

